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GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint

By Michael Fairman

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Christian Howard
Courtesy/ABC

That was quick! Christian Howard, who now looks to have literally stepped in for Nathan Dean to wrap up a few episodes for the character of Ethan Lovett made a quick exit on Friday’s July 31 episode of General Hospital.

GH viewers were stunned earlier this week on the Monday, July 27 episode when a voiceover announcer shared that Christian Howard was now playing Ethan Lovett. Next, Ethan hits the sheets with Ava Jerome, played by three-time Daytime Emmy-winner, Maura West. All seemed to be moving forward when suddenly at the end of the Thursday, July 30 episode, Ethan spots newcomer Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) at the Metro Court Pool, and makes a quick getaway.

Then, it’s revealed after packing his bags at Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) house, that out of nowhere, Ethan received a lead on an incredible opportunity so he has to say goodbye to Lulu and run out of town and was leaving Port Charles.

Courtesy/ABC

RUNNING OUT OF TOWN

In fact, Ethan was in such a hurry, he forgot to say goodbye to Ava who had been waiting for him at the Metro Court pool. There is clearly a connection to Hudson and baby Phoebe after Ethan spotted the guy, because Ethan also glanced over to the baby and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) at the Metro Court pool, before he ran to Lulu’s to pack his things. All of this points to Howard being an emergency recast for Dean.

It’s definitely been a week of change on-screen on the ABC soap with the news of Maxie, Spinelli, James, Georgie and Bailey all suddenly leaving Port Charles for Australia, after Spinelli got an offer he could not turn down.

That exit was written because Kirsten Storms is at this time,, and the very foreseeable future, not returning to General Hospital and is living in Tennessee. As she had documented via her Instagram stories and posts, she has been going through several personal ordeals. In addition to Storms, Ryan Paevey also exited the series earlier this month when he ended his run as Cassius Faison, while leaving the door open for his return down the line.

So, will newcomers Kelly Kruger (Serena Baldwin), Dean Geyer (Tristan Roberts) and Troy Lennon Appel fill the void of the multitude of exits? What are your theories on Christian Howard’s departure as Ethan Lovett on GH? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Makes no sense to me. They knew Nathan was leaving, so why not just write the character out with this exit.
.

I agree. The recast wasn’t going to work. I didn’t see any chemistry between him and Ava.

Comes down to TPTB not planning ahead.

So, it seems that Christian was only neeeded one day on set. This seems eerily similar to when Tyler Christopher departed as Nikolas. They were just going there with Nik & Ava and a temporary, but decent temporary recast stepped in for a few episodes.

Tristian and Serena seem okay so far. Not though to judge Hudson on. At least, according to the credits, Hudson is his first name and not yet another character referred to by their last name.

I agree with your analogy. TBH, I know that ND announced a new kid, but his State of Mind episode makes me think that he’s got other issues going on, too.

Sorry, but it’s Tristan, not Tristian.

Duly noted. Appreciate the catch.

You have to be careful with the soap opera spelling police.

No offense to Christian Howard who seems a likable person; but, couldn’t they have just taped Ethan’s exit with Nathan Dean an used TV magic to insert the new guy at the Metro Court? Ethan and Ava’s hotel scenes seemed a waste since Ethan was leaving anyway.

It seems more likely that Dean finished his four-month contract and they needed more time to film beyond that contract, and he was unwilling to stay, so they recast the role to finish the storyline. Disappointing but that’s how it works sometimes.

He only filmed for 3 months. The recast only was on set for 1 day (stretched out over 3 episodes).

He appeared from April 17 to July 24. That is four months’ time. Not three. And Nathan Dean was on-set from March to June, again, for four months. 😉 Dean himself said four months and that is what he did: four months.

Try again. Do the math. His last episode was July 17. April 17 – May 17 (1), May 17 – June 17 (2), June 17 – July 17 (3). Three months.

If you count that way, yes. However, counted this way: April (1), May (2), June (3), and July (4), it clearly adds up to four months. And again, he aired beyond July 17, so even by your math, he entered into a fourth month (even if not completely).

Either way, per Dean, he was contracted for four months (per his own words), and that’s clearly what he did, and he was not going to stick around beyond that because Frank, Elizabeth, and Chris continue to be too inept and unprofessional to plan a story ahead; instead, they continue to fly by the seat of their pants.

Per SOD, Dean last aired on July 17. He was removed from the cast listing on the credits the week after. I wouldn’t quote an exact date if I didn’t do my homework.

Nothing has been released as to why Dean was unavailable for his final shoot day. Are there issues to hold Frank and the writers accountable for- absolutely – but we really don’t know the whole story here.

And as far as I’ve seen, there is nothing that says Christian Howard filmed for one-day only.

Yeah, OG Steve counted it that way because that’s how time duration is counted.

If he had only been there from April 17 until the end of April we would say he had been there approximately two weeks. He had not been there one month until May 17, two months on June 17 and three months on his last day of July 17.

Thanks for explaining this Michael. I wonder what the real story behind all this is!

I think they realized it wasn’t going to work. He was terribly miscast. So instead of another recast they just had him book town.

All these new guys remind me of Dex. Why not just bring Dex back?

Because you shouldn’t make the same mistake twice.

OK, so Nathan Dean wanted a short term contract to honor Tony Geary, and they gave it to him. Fine, although I don’t think it was much of a tribute to Tony. If Christian Howard was a temporary recast to write the character out, then why didn’t Nathan stay long enough to film those scenes? Doesn’t make sense. And with Jason telling Sonny he is done, Ethan was already on canvas to fill that void.

OK, so Nathan Dean wanted a short term contract to honor Tony Geary, and they gave it to him. Fine, although I don’t think it was much of a tribute to Tony.

It was never done “in tribute” to Anthony Geary. What Nathan Dean said was he began thinking about returning to General Hospital following Geary’s death. And it wasn’t about giving it to him, either. He did not reach out to them; they reached out to him. It was Frank Valentini and Mark Teschner who reached out to him about reprising the role (due to a planned story) and he agreed.

If Christian Howard was a temporary recast to write the character out, then why didn’t Nathan stay long enough to film those scenes? Doesn’t make sense.

Because his contracted time was done, and he was likely unwilling to stick around to finish the story. They wanted three years, then two years, and he was only willing to do four months, and that’s exactly what he did.

glad he is gone was a horrible Ethan

I really liked the other Ethan very sexy and his acting was great! Why did he leave??

His four month contract that he agreed to do was done.

I don’t personally want to see an endless litany of new characters. I’d rather GH actually show characters we know but are barely used–Brad, Diane, Terry, Yuri, for instance.

Please! No more Brad!

General Hospital

‘General Hospital’s’ Tabyana Ali Weighs In on Who She Thinks is Trina’s Stalker (Exclusive)

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Tabyana Ali

On General Hospital, as Trina Robinson (Tabyana Ali) has launched a music career alongside Gio Palmieri (Giovanni Mazza), it was recently revealed that she actually has what seems like an “obsessed” stalker! How do we know? Well, there is a collage of the young woman that said person is continuing to add more photos to as the weeks and months roll on.

There have been several obvious suspects in the way GH has presented the characters. Chief among them music executive, Simon Craft (Grady Eldridge) who continually has made statements and has been shooting daggers at anyone getting in the way of his prized recording artist.

At the same time the stalking started, Kai’s friend and former college football teammate, Quinn (Jequan Jackson) showed back up who previously had a falling out with Trina. Might he be playing nice, but wants revenge on Trina?

Simon, Trina and Gio

Photo: ABC

KEPT IN THE DARK

Fast-forward and now General Hospital fans learned that two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Alley Mills is on her way back to the show as Heather Webber, who previously was known as”The Hook” killer at one point, and is the biological mother of Trina’s sworn enemy, Esme Prince (last played by Avery Pohl).

Esme perished went she went overboard with Trina’s boyfriend, Spencer Cassadine (last played by Nicholas Alexander Chavez) a few years ago into the steely waters below. Could Esme be the one obsessing over Trina, or could it be someone else completely?

In a brand new video interview out on Tuesday, September 29, Tabyana Ali visited You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel and weighed-in on who she thinks could be the culprit! However, Tabyana shared she actually has no idea who it actually will turn out to be.

“The crazy thing is that everybody knows who it is except for me! They’re keeping that secret from me,” revealed Ali. “They want me to be as oblivious as Trina.”

Courtesy/ABC

THOSE WHO WENT OVERBOARD AND PRESUMED DEAD

After looking over the potential suspects and with all the theories that have floated about, Tabyana had her top picks! “I would love for it to be Spencer. I would love for it to be Esme. Mostly because I also just want my friends back on set, too. I would love to just see them and hang out with them. I think it definitely could be one of those two,” speculated Ali.

“I think everybody thought it could have been Quinn, or could have been Simon. I think we were all pointing in that direction for a minute, but I thinks that’s too easy”, declares Tabyana. “I think they’re just trying to throw me off, and trying to make it seem like it’s one of them. Now, nobody told me one way or the other about them.”

As soaps go, it’s usually not the first string of suspects who turn out to be the actual person behind the stalking. Tabyana agreed, “If you just know writing in general, if you just know TV in general, if you know soaps in general, you know that’s a game. You know, they set up, set up, set up, and then they really show the reveal. So. I was like, ‘This is just the setup to the reveal, right?'”

As for it being Spencer, it may not because his motives are bad. Ali shared, “It could be Spencer trying to fight his way back to Trina, or Heather trying to get revenge for her dead daughter Esme, or Esme herself. Those are all good ones, I was also playing around with what if it’s Cyrus Renault (Jeff Kober)? That would be kind of fun. Don’t know what his motive would be. I know he passed away. He’s dead because of Joss (Eden McCoy), but it’s like everybody comes back alive on soaps, so…”

Trina and Kai

Photo: ABC

FROM KAI WITH LOVE

Some fans theorized it could be Trina’s boyfriend, Kai Taylor (Jens Austin Astrup) or one another option being that the real stalker takes him out. “I think that’s kind of happened to all of Trina’s boyfriends,” lamented Tabyana. “They’ve all kind of gone that way. So, hopefully it doesn’t happen that way. Would it be easier if Kai was the stalker? Okay, yeah, maybe. He’d go to jail for a couple months or whatever. Come on out and then what? He would had to have had a brain-eating amoeba that made him do it. Who knows?” (Laughs)

In the end, are Trina and Kai truly in love? Ali shared her viewpoint and gave a tease, “I think they have love for one another, but to love someone it does take gradual time. I think it’s getting to that point. I think with this music situation as well, it is really proving to Trina that Kai is willing to be there with her every step of the way.”

She continued, “He is supporting her 10 toes down, making sure that she has everything that she needs, to going to every live show. I think this portion of their lives will definitely guide them somewhere else. I think, an ‘I love you,’ might come just around the corner.”

You can check out the full conversation with Tabyana now on the Michael Fairman Channel below.

Then weigh-in, after hearing Tabyana’s thoughts on the matter, who do you think will be proven to be Trina’s stalker? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Lulu Tells Charlotte Everything That Could Have Happened to Her With Drew

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Lulu and Charlotte

The Monday, September 28 episode featured emotional scenes for Lulu (Alexa Havins), Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) and Charlotte that set the stage for the previously reported exit of Bluesy Burke.

In story, Lulu and Valentin inform Charlotte they are sending her away to boarding school in Maine. The reason: she needs more structure, and more than her parents can give her. Charlotte’s recent actions to try to set up Drew (Cameron Mathison) to make it look like he was making advances to a teenage girl was the last straw for the teenager.

Charlotte, at first, was angered and begging her parents to not make her leave Port Charles. Valentin exits to give Lulu time alone to talk to their daughter.

Charlotte and Danny

Courtesy/ABC

MOTHER HAS SOME THINGS TO SAY

Now alone, Lulu tries to open her daughter’s eyes as to what could have happened to her if she went through with her plot to videotape Drew with her in his car! Charlotte explains her plan and how she had everything under control, but Lulu asks her what if Drew took advantage of her or hurt her? What if things went terribly wrong? She questions Charlotte, if she even thought about that?

Lulu tried to make Charlotte see that Drew could have sexually assaulted her. Eventually, Charlotte agrees to go to boarding school, as Lulu and Charlotte share a tear-filled goodbye. However, before she leaves town, Charlotte asks her mother to let her say goodbye to Danny (Asher Antonyzyn).

VALENTIN OPENS UP TO ANNA

Meanwhile, Valentin has gone to the Metro Court Gardens and runs into Anna (Finola Hughes). Valentin is distraught sharing he feels like a failure as a father and because of his choices what has become of his daughter. He is devastated. These were also well-played scenes between James Patrick Stuart and Finola Hughes. Anna assures Valentin that sending Charlotte to boarding school is not a bad idea at all.

DANNY IS HEARTBROKEN AND ANGERED

Towards the conclusion of the episode, Charlotte tells Danny she is being sent to Maine to boarding school by his parents. Danny tries to look on the bright side, that Maine is not that far away from New York, and at least she is not being sent overseas.

However, Danny becomes upset when Charlotte tells him that her parents knew what she was planning with Drew, because Rocco had told Carly (Laura Wright).

Danny is confused why Rocco would have ratted her out. Charlotte says to impress Scou (Kayden Brenna Tokarski). The two teens hug with Charlotte promising that she’d be back, and Danny telling her he would here for her once she returned to Port Charles.

So, what did you think of the scenes between Lulu, Valentin and Charlotte? Did Lulu raise good points to her daughter about Drew, to scare her enough to realize actions have consequences? Will you miss Bluesy Burke? Let us know via the comment section, but first take a look at the opening scenes featuring the trio that sets-up Charlotte’s farewell, for now, below.

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General Hospital

Bluesy Burke’s ‘General Hospital’ Status as Charlotte Cassadine Revealed

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Bluesy Burke

On the Monday, September 28 episode of General Hospital, Charlotte Cassadine was sent away from Port Charles to boarding school in Maine, thus ending the run, for now, of Bluesy Burke.

Burke’s tenure with the ABC soap and the future of Charlotte were left up in the air and a hot topic for many GH fans over this past weekend when her parents, Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) and Lulu (Alexa Havins) agreed their daughter should get far away from Port Charles. Now we can confirm, while the character is being written of the canvas, that doesn’t mean we have seen the last of Bluesy.

In real-life, the young actress is going off to college and also out of state. General Hospital’s executive producer, Frank Valentini explained via a statement to Soap Opera Digest, “Bluesy is still a part of the General Hospital family, and we worked it out so that she will come back on her holidays and school breaks. We are incredibly proud of her as she begins this exciting new chapter and starts her college journey.”

Charlotte and Outback

Photo: ABC

BLUESY GOT THE STAMP OF APPROVAL FROM GH EP

GH fans first saw Bluesy take over the role of Charlotte Cassadine back in September of 2025. Prior to Burke, the role was played by Scarlett Fernandez from 2014-2025.

Bluesy shared with SOD, that she was able to work things out with Valentini and General Hospital so she could make returns while in college. “I love my job and I didn’t want to leave it,” expressed the actress. “But I spoke to Frank and just kind of laid it all out there and let him know what my situation was and he was in full support of me going to college. When I told him I was thinking of taking a gap year, he was like, ‘No, you have to go to college, that’s so important and we will be here for you.’”

COLLEGE VS. THE SOAP A DIFFICULT CHOICE

In the difficult choice of going off to college or continuing in her professional career acting on GH, Burke acknowledged that when she heard the door would be left open for her return, that it, “meant the world to me, and really made me feel better about making the decision.”

Burke also shared that on her final tape date before heading off to school, that Valentini was already asking her when her next availability, and window would be to come back to tape all-new episodes as Charlotte.

So, happy to know Bluesy is able to go off to college and return when she is able to during her school year and the holidays? Are you upset that Valentin and Lulu decided, in story, to send Charlotte away from Port Charles in the first place? What will become of Danny? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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